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China's Premiere Medical PortalSat, 29 Jul 2017 12:52:43 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.5One third of global population overweight or obese according to new studyhttp://webmd.cn/global-population-overweight-or-obese/
http://webmd.cn/global-population-overweight-or-obese/#commentsTue, 13 Jun 2017 03:55:14 +0000http://webmd.cn/?p=777More than 2 billion people around the world are either overweight or obese, according to a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. This figure means that nearly one third of the global population suffer from excess weight, and according to the researchers this excess weight is leading to health problems and […]

]]>More than 2 billion people around the world are either overweight or obese, according to a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
This figure means that nearly one third of the global population suffer from excess weight, and according to the researchers this excess weight is leading to health problems and a rising number of deaths. The study, entitled “Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity in 195 Countries over 25 Years,” systematically reevaluated the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity as well as the patterns of deaths and disability-adjusted life-years related to high body mass index (BMI), according to age and sex, in 195 countries from 1990 through 2015.

China obesity

Research data indicates that in 2015, China had the highest numbers of obese children (15.3 million), and the second highest (behind only the United States) number of obese adults (57.3 million). These high numbers are largely attributable to China’s massive population.

On a per-capita basis, the research data indicates that China ranks lower in terms of levels of obesity among both children and adults, but still rather high. In China in 2015:

Overweight adults (ages >= 20) accounted for around 25.71% of males and 22.78% of females(as compared with 39.84% of males and 29.46% of females in the United States).

Obese adults (ages >= 20) accounted for around 5.02% of males and 5.51% of females(as compared with 30.66% of males and 35.45% of females in the United States).

Overweight children (ages 2-19) accounted for around 12.34% of males and 9.82% of females(as compared with 15.79% of males and 15.82% of females in the United States).

Obese children (ages 2-19) accounted for around 5.91% of males and 4.24% of females(as compared with 12.99% of males and 12.4% of females in the United States).

Moreover, while the levels of obese adults and children in China are still significantly lower than those in the United States, the rate at which levels have risen in China is quite shocking. In China in 1980:

Overweight adults (ages >= 20) accounted for only around 5.23% of males and 9.28% of females(as compared with 25.71% of males and 22.78% of females in 2015).

Obese adults (ages >= 20) accounted for only around 0.33% of males and 0.9% of females(as compared with 5.02% of males and 5.51% of females in 2015).

Overweight children (ages 2-19) accounted for only around 2.54% of males and 2.87% of females(as compared with 12.34% of males and 9.82% of females in 2015).

Obese children (ages 2-19) accounted for only around 0.8% of males and 0.83% of females(as compared with 5.91% of males and 4.24% of females in 2015).

Levels of obesity have also risen in the United States between 1980 and 2015, but not by as much as they have in China during this period. Additional data is available in the study’s Supplemental Appendix.

Body mass index (BMI)

“Obese” and “overweight” are categorized according to BMI, which is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared:

BMI between 19 and 24 is considered normal and healthy.

BMI between 25 and 29 is considered overweight.

BMI over 30 is considered obese.

Sociodemographic index (SDI)

The study also analyzed sociodemographic index (SDI) — a summary measure of lag-distributed income per capita, average educational attainment among persons over the age of 15 years, and total fertility rate — to position countries on the development continuum. We then generated quintiles of SDI to categorize countries as low, low-middle, middle, high-middle, and high development level. China was categorized as middle SDI (while the United States was categorized as high SDI).

Among the leading health risks that were assessed in the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study, high BMI continues to have one of the highest rates of increase. Across levels of development, the prevalence of obesity has increased over recent decades, which indicates that the problem is not simply a function of income or wealth. Changes in the food environment and food systems are probably major drivers. Increased availability, accessibility, and affordability of energy-dense foods, along with intense marketing of such foods, could explain excess energy intake and weight gain among different populations. The reduced opportunities for physical activity that have followed urbanization and other changes in the built environment have also been considered as potential drivers; however, these changes generally preceded the global increase in obesity and are less likely to be major contributors.

Health concerns

Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life-years related to high BMI. Other causes of death related to high BMI include chronic kidney disease, cancers, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders.

]]>http://webmd.cn/global-population-overweight-or-obese/feed/3Fruit juice NOT recommended for children, particularly infantshttp://webmd.cn/fruit-juice-not-recommended-children/
http://webmd.cn/fruit-juice-not-recommended-children/#commentsMon, 22 May 2017 07:58:34 +0000http://webmd.cn/?p=767According to a recent policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit to children under age 1 and should not be included in their diet. Infant nutrition According to Melvin B. Heyman, MD, FAAP, co-author of the AAP policy statement statement, “Parents may perceive fruit juice as healthy, […]

Infant nutrition

According to Melvin B. Heyman, MD, FAAP, co-author of the AAP policy statement statement, “Parents may perceive fruit juice as healthy, but it is not a good substitute for fresh fruit and just packs in more sugar and calories.”

Moreover, although “[s]mall amounts [of fruit juice] in moderation are fine for older kids, but are absolutely unnecessary for children under 1” (emphasis added).

Specific nutritional guidance for infants includes:

Human milk or infant formula is sufficient for infants, and low-fat/nonfat milk and water are sufficient for older children.

Toddlers should not be given juice from bottles or easily transportable “sippy cups” that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day.

Excessive exposure of the teeth to the carbohydrates in fruit juice can lead to tooth decay.

Toddlers should not be given juice at bedtime.

Fruit juice is not appropriate in the treatment of dehydration or management of diarrhea.

Children who take specific forms of medication should not be given grapefruit juice, which can interfere with the medication’s effectiveness.

Fruit juice

Moreover, the policy statement claims that consumption of unpasteurized juice products should be strongly discouraged for children of all ages, and even 100-percent fresh or reconstituted fruit juice should be limited depending on a child’s age. Children and adolescents continue to be the highest consumers of juice and juice drinks.

Historically, fruit juice was recommended by pediatricians as a source of vitamin C and as an extra source of water for healthy infants and young children as their diets expanded to include solid foods with higher renal solute load. It was also sometimes recommended for children with constipation. Fruit juice is marketed as a healthy, natural source of vitamins and, in some instances, calcium. Because juice tastes good, children readily accept it. Although juice consumption has some benefits, it also has potential detrimental effects. High sugar content in juice contributes to increased calorie consumption and the risk of dental caries. In addition, the lack of protein and fiber in juice can predispose to inappropriate weight gain (too much or too little).

Fresh fruit

The AAP supports policies that seek to reduce fruit juice consumption and promote fresh fruit. According to the APP, fruit juice offers no nutritional benefits over whole fruit for infants and children and has no essential role in healthy, balanced diets of children.

Juice should not be introduced into the diet of infants before 12 months of age unless clinically indicated. The intake of juice should be limited to, at most, 4 ounces/day in toddlers 1 through 3 years of age, and 4 to 6 ounces/day for children 4 through 6 years of age. For children 7 to 18 years of age, juice intake should be limited to 8 ounces or 1 cup of the recommended 2 to 2.5 cups of fruit servings per day.

]]>http://webmd.cn/fruit-juice-not-recommended-children/feed/6Norovirus food-poisoning outbreak in Beijing ongoinghttp://webmd.cn/norovirus-outbreak-beijing/
http://webmd.cn/norovirus-outbreak-beijing/#commentsThu, 13 Apr 2017 00:24:41 +0000http://webmd.cn/?p=737As reported by China’s official Xinhua News Agency, Beijing reported 166 cases of norovirus in the first quarter of this year, and according to local health authorities this outbreak is likely to ongoing. Outbreak in Beijing “Of the 166 cases, 82 were in kindergartens, 69 in primary schools, nine in middle schools, four in colleges, […]

]]>As reported by China’s official Xinhua News Agency, Beijing reported 166 cases of norovirus in the first quarter of this year, and according to local health authorities this outbreak is likely to ongoing.

Outbreak in Beijing

“Of the 166 cases, 82 were in kindergartens, 69 in primary schools, nine in middle schools, four in colleges, one in a restaurant and one at home.”

Norovirus facts

Norovirus, also sometimes referred to as “the winter vomiting bug,” is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans. It affects people of all ages, and can be transmitted by fecally contaminated food or water, by person-to-person contact, and via aerosolization of vomited virus and subsequent contamination of surfaces.

Norovirus infection is characterized by nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, loss of taste. A person usually develops symptoms of gastroenteritis 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. General lethargy, weakness, muscle aches, headaches, and low-grade fevers may occur. After infection, immunity to norovirus is usually incomplete and temporary, with one publication drawing the conclusion that protective immunity to the same strain of norovirus lasts for six months, but that all such immunity is gone after two years.

The disease is usually self-limiting, and severe illness is rare. Although having norovirus can be unpleasant, it is not usually dangerous and most who contract it make a full recovery within two to three days. The annual number of diarrhea-associated events in outpatients is estimated at 7.7 million in industrialized countries, with 500,000 hospitalizations; and 9.0 million hospitalizations in developing countries, with nearly 2 million deaths. Outbreaks of norovirus infection often occur in closed or semi-closed communities, such as long-term care facilities, overnight camps, hospitals, schools, prisons, clubs, dormitories, and cruise ships, where the infection spreads very rapidly either by person-to-person transmission or through contaminated food. Many norovirus outbreaks have been traced to food that was handled by one infected person.

On surfaces, norovirus is rapidly inactivated by either sufficient heating or by chlorine-based disinfectants and polyquaternary amines, but the virus is less susceptible to alcohols and detergents.

]]>http://webmd.cn/norovirus-outbreak-beijing/feed/1Study finds pregnancy multivitamins ‘are a waste of money’http://webmd.cn/pregnancy-multivitamins-waste-money/
http://webmd.cn/pregnancy-multivitamins-waste-money/#commentsWed, 13 Jul 2016 05:16:46 +0000http://webmd.cn/?p=671According to recent research published in the journal Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB), pregnancy multivitamins ‘are a waste of money’ because such supplements do not appear to boost the health of mothers and babies. Although the multivitamin industry insists that a substantial proportion of women of child-bearing age are not getting enough nutrients from diet […]

]]>According to recent research published in the journal Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB), pregnancy multivitamins ‘are a waste of money’ because such supplements do not appear to boost the health of mothers and babies.

Although the multivitamin industry insists that a substantial proportion of women of child-bearing age are not getting enough nutrients from diet alone, the published research urges women to resist such marketing claims, and stick with a healthy, varied diet that includes fresh fruit and vegetables, possibly in conjunction with Folic Acid and Vitamin D supplements.

Useful Supplements

Pregnant women should adhere to accepted dietary guidelines, specifically a well-balanced diet with an emphasis on (i) folic acid and (ii) vitamin D.

Folic Acid

According to researchers, folic acid has the strongest evidence to support use as a supplement, with a recommended daily intake of 400 micrograms per day to protect against birth defects. Foods high in folic acid include:

Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach;

Citrus fruits, such as oranges;

Beans;

Breads;

Cereals;

Rice; and

Pastas.

Vitamin D

Researchers also recommend that pregnant women maintain a diet high in Vitamin D, with a daily recommended intake of 10 micrograms per day for healthy bones in the mother and baby. Foods high in vitamin D include:

]]>http://webmd.cn/pregnancy-multivitamins-waste-money/feed/22 Hour Limit on Screen Time for Kidshttp://webmd.cn/2-hour-limit-on-screen-time-for-kids/
http://webmd.cn/2-hour-limit-on-screen-time-for-kids/#respondMon, 26 Aug 2013 08:58:54 +0000http://wangyisheng.org/?p=333Beijing, Sept. 26 (WangYiSheng) – Kids shouldn’t be spending more than 1.5 to 2 hours each day in front of any kind of screen according to researchers. Limiting how much time your children spend in front of a screen is becoming increasingly difficult as children have easy access to such digital devices as smartphones and […]

Beijing, Sept. 26 (WangYiSheng) – Kids shouldn’t be spending more than 1.5 to 2 hours each day in front of any kind of screen according to researchers.

Limiting how much time your children spend in front of a screen is becoming increasingly difficult as children have easy access to such digital devices as smartphones and tablets. Parents are struggling with how long their kids should play with these devices.

It is widely believed by parents that using tablets may be more beneficial for children to interact with the real world than watching TV.

However, experts caution that apps aren’t necessarily educational.

Here are some things that you should be looking for in your child’s apps:

Check to make sure the content is appropriate for your child. If you wouldn’t let them watch it on television, then it isn’t okay for their apps.

Look for real brain-stimulating engagement. Sure, your child might spend hours playing on an app, but is the app forcing them to think while they do it or are they just pressing buttons repetitively?

Encourage kids to look for educational apps. Just because educational apps aren’t advertised to your kids doesn’t mean that they don’t exist. There are a number of highly-entertaining educational apps out there, your kids just need to look for them.

Be interested in the apps that your children are using. If you seem like you care in the progress that your kids are making while using educational apps, they will be encouraged to learn as much as they can while they are using them.

One last thing: It’s not a good idea for children under two to be using apps. They need that precious development window to work on their interpersonal language skills, and an app just can’t provide that.

]]>http://webmd.cn/2-hour-limit-on-screen-time-for-kids/feed/0New genetic factors behind severe childhood epilepsy identifiedhttp://webmd.cn/new-genetic-factors-behind-severe-childhood-epilepsy-identified/
http://webmd.cn/new-genetic-factors-behind-severe-childhood-epilepsy-identified/#respondWed, 14 Aug 2013 04:16:16 +0000http://www.wangyisheng.asia/?p=94Researchers have identified 25 new mutations on six key genes associated with severe forms of childhood epilepsy, according to a large-scale international study largely funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The study, part of a project involving more than 40 international institutions, used a cutting-edge genetic technique, called exome sequencing, to search for […]

]]>Researchers have identified 25 new mutations on six key genes associated with severe forms of childhood epilepsy, according to a large-scale international study largely funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

The study, part of a project involving more than 40 international institutions, used a cutting-edge genetic technique, called exome sequencing, to search for non-inherited mutations linked to epileptic encephalopathies in 264 children whose parents who do not have epilepsy.

“We identified an unusually large number of distinct disease- causing mutations — 25 in total, all of which were de novo (brand new) mutations,” study author David Goldstein, director of the Human Genome Variation Center at the Duke University Medical Center, in a statement.

The study known as Epilepsy 4000 (Epi4K) found a total of six genes behind the devastating form of the disorder: four had been described before using other genetic techniques and two genes are implicated for the first time.

Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders caused by abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain which often produces debilitating seizures and a range of other symptoms. More than 2 million people in the United States suffer from epilepsies, and infants and children have a greater chance of having the disorders than adults.